Simmons attorney honored in ‘40 Under 40

Schopfer ALTON – Melissa Crowe Schopfer, a shareholder at Simmons Hanly Conroy, has been chosen by the Law Bulletin Publishing Co. as one of its 2017 “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch.” The Law Bulletin’s annual “40 Under Forty” recognizes the 40 “most talented young attorneys practicing in Illinois.” Publisher of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer magazine, the LBPC evaluates nominees on their intelligence, passion, success, desire to help the community and willingness to work hard at their profession. In nominating Schopfer for the award, Allison Sonneveld, an attorney with law firm Polsinelli, praised Schopfer’s devotion to her work and care for her clients, pointing out that Schopfer even postponed her honeymoon to complete a client’s deposition. Schopfer earned her J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law and her Bachelor of Science from Western Illinois University. Schopfer is an asbestos trial team leader at Simmons Hanly Conroy, managing a group of attorneys, paralegals and medical assistants. Since joining the firm in 2005, she has worked on more than 500 cases, helping to recover significant settlements and verdicts on behalf of individuals and families impacted by mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. In addition to working on many of the charitable initiatives that Simmons Hanly Conroy supports for cancer research and treatment for asbestos-related diseases, Schopfer donates time to multiple community organizations, including Friends of Wings (St. Louis), Queen of Peace Center (St. Louis) and Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition (St. Louis).